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Washington, D.C., Sept. 9, 2010—In its October 2010 issue, ESSENCE magazine selected Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) President Michelle Asha Cooper, Ph.D., as a powerful visionary for its “Power Issue,” which celebrates Black women under 40 who are blazing new trails across a range of industries including entertainment, environmental activism, fashion and design, marketing, and sports. Cooper, 37, was chosen among 20 other female leaders “who transformed their dreams into reality before they turned 40.”

The article titled, “Leaders of the New School,” highlights Cooper as a “policy play maker” who helps to shape the national agenda for education. The story further states:

“Top politicos have Cooper on speed dial. As leader of a premier research and policy center, she dispenses advice to Washington insiders on how to best promote college access [and success] and diversity.”

Cooper is considered a respected education leader who has spent a career dedicated to and rooted in the postsecondary community. Cooper has held various leadership positions at the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance at the U.S. Department of Education, Association of American Colleges and Universities, Council for Independent Colleges, and King’s College. She is on the editorial board of the Enrollment Management Journal: Student Access, Finance, and Success in Higher Education. Cooper is also a member of the board of directors for College Bound, National College Access Network, and Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. A native of Charleston, S.C., she received a B.A. from the College of Charleston, a M.P.S. from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park.

“For 40 years, ESSENCE has served as an all-inclusive resource for issues concerning Black women—from our perspective and own voice.” said Cooper. “It warms my heart to be chosen as a leader by this premier publication; hopefully, my selection will, in turn, serve as a testimony and encourage other young Black women to reach for their dreams.”

ESSENCE is the premier lifestyle, fashion and beauty magazine for African-American women. With its motivating message, intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone, compelling and engaging editorial lineup and vibrant and modern design, ESSENCE is the definitive voice of today's dynamic African-American woman. ESSENCE speaks directly to a Black woman's spirit, her heart and her unique concerns. Every month eight million African-American women rely on ESSENCE for editorial content designed to help them move their lives forward personally, professionally, intellectually, and spiritually.

To learn more about Cooper and IHEP, visit the organization’s Web site at www.ihep.org.

About the Institute for Higher Education Policy

The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) is an independent, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to increasing access and success in postsecondary education around the world. Established in 1993, the Washington, D.C.-based organization uses unique research and innovative programs to inform key decision makers who shape public policy and support economic and social development. IHEP’s web site, www.ihep.org, features an expansive collection of higher education information available free of charge and provides access to some of the most respected professionals in the fields of public policy and research.